INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Investigators found text messages leading a 27-year-old drug dealer to be sentenced to 16 years and two months in federal prison for a fatal overdose, said a news release issued Friday from the U.S. Department of Justice and the federal court in Indianapolis. The sentence includes five years of supervised release. Arieon Lofton, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, which led to the fatal overdose July 30 of an Indianapolis woman identified in the release only as “J.A.” The sentencing follows a drug transaction arranged via text messages between “J.A.” and a phone number linked to Lofton. Forensic analysis later confirmed “J.A.” had fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl in her system. The coroner determined “J.A.” died from acute mixed drug intoxication, with bromazolam, acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl present. According to court documents, “J.A.” began texting an unsaved phone number on July 26 to arrange a trade involving suboxone strips and Xanax. The following day, “J.A.” agreed to exchange 150 suboxone strips for 15 Xanax bars, $50 and a gram of “slow.” A friend discovered “J.A.” unresponsive inside her apartment on July 30. Investigators recovered text messages arranging the drug transaction between “J.A.” and a phone number registered to Valencia Griffin. Griffin is incarcerated in the Indiana Department of Correction and did not physically possess the phone when the messages were sent. However, investigators uncovered multiple three-way calls involving Griffin; her boyfriend, Martell Marshall, who is also incarcerated; and Lofton, who was not in custody. A subpoena revealed that the phone number used in the drug deal consistently pinged at an apartment belonging to Lofton’s girlfriend. On Aug. 21, officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant for the phone. Lofton initially approached the door but retreated into a bedroom instead of answering. His girlfriend eventually allowed officers inside. While searching for the phone, officers observed marijuana, burnt joints, and two white pills in plain view. They then obtained a search warrant to search the residence for narcotics. Inside the master bedroom, officers located four cellphones plugged in, along with five additional phones in a bathroom drawer. They also recovered two 9mm Taurus firearms, $2,573 in cash stored in shoeboxes, approximately 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 1,000 counterfeit Xanax pills, a pound of marijuana, a pill press, and multiple bottles of lactose hidden inside the dishwasher. Suboxone strips prescribed to “J.A.” were also found in the dishwasher. Forensic analysis confirmed that substances recovered from the dishwasher contained three-quarters of a pound of acetyl fentanyl and slight more than a tenth of a pound of fentanyl. Investigators found no other drug-related conversations on the phone of “J.A.” phone besides those with Lofton. Records showed “J.A.” had been purchasing narcotics from Lofton since at least March 10. At the time of the offense, Lofton was on supervised release following a 22-month federal sentence for attempted robbery. He also has previous convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, driving while suspended and false identity. Tom Wheeler, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis, said in the release that Lofton’s actions showed a clear disregard for human life. “My thoughts are with J.A.”s loved ones as they continue to grieve an unimaginable loss. Lofton’s actions showed a clear disregard for human life and the consequences were devastating. It is impossible to know how many others might have been harmed had investigators not acted when they did. Lofton’s actions were not a mistake—they were a deliberate pattern of choices that cost a young woman her life and he will now spend years in federal prison answering for every one of them.” According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage. Seven out of 10 illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug. U.S. District Court Judge Justin R. Olson imposed the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett prosecuted the case. Federal authorities do not share jail-booking photos of convicted people in their news releases. This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness. ...read more read less